Partition construction



Oct. l, 1957 A. B.HAMM|1'T EVAL 2,808,136

PARTITION CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1955 s sheets-sheet I /04c l E E;

. JNVENTORS //V/Pf-W HAMM/7'7- Arrow/5y Oct. 1, 1957 A. B. HAMMITT TAL PARTITION CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1953 5 sheets-sheet :s

INVENTORS `v 14A/DREW 5. HAMM/7T BY HERBERT L. BMWi/.

TOR/VE Y I A. B. HAMMITT EVAL PARTITION CONSTRUCTION oct. 1, 1957 Filed Jan. 2, 1953 United States Patent() Y PARUTION CONSTRUCTION Andrew B. Hanimitt, Trenton, and Herbert L. Birum, Jr., Titusville, N. l.

This invention relates to building constructions and is directed particularly to means for use inerecting partitions for dividing the interior of a building into separate rooms or sections.

When partitions are erected'with conventional wooden studs to which lath and plaster or sheet material are applied, there is usually ample room for running wires, water pipes and other service units betweenthe walls. However, such partitions are space consuming and stationary and cannot be taken down or movedwithout a major renovation of the building.

While numerous types of movable partitions have been suggested wherein a single thickness of wallboard or sheet material is used, the mounting means for the wall forming material have had to be individually layed out or engineered for each installation. They have generally included numerous parts which have to be produced in a lshop and specially fitted together and they are sometimes bent during handling in such a way as to make it difficult or impossible to use the damage elements. Moreover, all prior installations have necessarily been made thick or bulky in appearance i-n order to provide space to receive armored or B-X wiring and electrical 'cal outlets and wall switches at convenient positions.

Moreover, the partitions may be removed and erected in new locations without tearing up the oors, walls or ceiling which they engage.

These advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a limited number of elements in the form of continuous strips of extruded, rolled or molded material which may be cut, mitered and assembled on the job in the same manner as ordinary wood trim to form a base construction vdesigned to receive' and secure the wall forming sheet material in place. At the same time, the strips cooperate to provide a naceway or housing for electrical conduits and presentV areas within which suitable openings may be made to receive outlet plugs, `switch boxes and the like. Y

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel type of interior partition for buildings.

Another object of the invention is to provide elements for use in forming a` base for a partition which includes a raceway for electrical conduits and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for use in forming partitions wherein the elements employed may be formed of extruded, rolled or molded material capable of being assembled erecting a partition. Y f

readily in Ce s "1?.5ttentet1A oef, 1, `1957 These and other objects `and features of vthe present invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference'ismade to the figures of the accompanying drawing. Y

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is a -diagrammatic illustration of a portion of a building embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section illustrating a preferred based assembly embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional viewV taken on the line 3 3 of Figl; Y

Figs. 4 to` 7` arediagrammatic illustrations indicating xteps which may be used in erecting the construction of ig. l;

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate alternative -forms of anchor plates which may be used` in the practice of the present invention; and A Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate alternative constructions -for receiving and housing bolts or other securing means for holding elements ofthe assemblies in place.

In thoseforms of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration in the drawing the partition embodies a base assembly 2, wall forming sheet material 4, land a ceiling assembly 6 which may be theV same or similiar to the base assembly 2. The vertical joints between the sheets of wall forming material are preferably joined by cover strips or `battens 8 and corner assemblies 10 of the type shown and described in our co-pending abandoned application Serial No. 230,613, filed June 8, 1951.

The base assembly Z'which is lshown in Fig. 2 comprises three cooperating strips Vof material including an anchor strip 12 and side plates 14 and 16. Each of these strips may be in the form 'of `an extruded, rolled or molded member which is uniform in crosss'ection throughout its length yso that any desired or required length Vmay be cut from the strip with a conventional power sawor hack saw to t in any location as determined on the job. The strips are preferably provided in conventional lumber lengths and may be cut and handled by unskilled Workmen without special designing' for any installation.

The anchor strip 12,- shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a lower flat face 18 for engagement with the surface Ztl on which the` partitionis to Ybe erected and is formed on its opposite edgesA with retaining'means 22 whichare shown in the formofoppositelyj and outwardly extending ilanges `Whichare spaced yvertically from the lower face 18 of the stripfor receiving complementary flanges or elements on the side plates 14 and 16 to hold `them in place and injproperly spaced relation.- The side plates 14and 16V-are eachY formed on their lower edge with an inwardly projecting-ange24 designed to slip beneath the projecting retaining means 22 ori-the anchor strip 12. The side plates alsomay be formed with a slot 26 extending lengthwisefof-thestrip abovethe flange 24 so as to 'embrace the retaining-means 22 yand aidin supporting and positioning the side plates with respect tothe anchor strip. Positioning ofthe-sideplates with" respectV tothe anchor strip and surface 2,0 is; further -aided by the outward and downwardly extending foot 28 on the outer face of'each side plate which is-engageable with the surface 20 on which -tlieppartition-isA erected and presents an attractive cove molding adjacent-the floor, ceiling,

web 30 so that when the side plates are in engagement with the anchor strip the two webs will overlap and preferably have direct contact with each other to close the bottom of a raceway 34. The side plates further are each provided with two spaced longitudinally extending parallel webs 36 formed with complementary'bolt engaging ribs 38 of the character dened in said application Serial No. 230,613. An extension 40 adjacent the lower edge of the lower rib on one side plate, such as the Vside plate 14, serves to close the space between the webs on the opposed side plates and thereby closes the upper side of the raceway 34.

The portions 42 of the side plates above the bolt receiving webs 36 and adjacent the upper edges of the plates are in the form of vertical ilanges which cooperate with the bolt receiving webs to form a channel for receiving the edge of a'sheet of wall forming material 44. Either one of the side plates 14 or. 16 may be drilled at any convenient points lengthwise thereof and between the bolt receiving webs so that bolts 46 may be passed through the drilled plate and into engagement with the bolt engaging ribs 38 on the webs 36 of the other side plate to draw the upper portions of the side plates together and into clamping engagement with the sheet material inserted into the channel formed by the edge portions 42 of the side plates. Longitudtinally extending sealing elements 47 are preferably carried by the side plates adjacent the upper edges thereof in position to engage the opposite faces of the sheet material 44 so as to provide tight joints between the side plates and sheet material and insure continuous engagement therebetween. The bolts 46 serve to hold the lower anges 24 of the side plates inengagement with the retaining means 22 on the anchor plate 12 and urge the portions 42 and sealing elements 47 on the side plates into rm engagement with the sheet material so as to secure the elements 12, 14 and 16 and the sheet material together in a rigid assembly for the partition.

The vertical edges of adjacent sheets of wall forming material may be secured together and the joints therebetween may be sealed by any suitable means but as shown the construction of said application Serial No. 230,613 is employed. This construction consists of a pair of opposed cover strips 48 which are generally T- shaped in cross section and secured together by bolts 50 which pass through one strip and engage the boltV retaining ribs on webs 52 of the other strip to draw the strips together and clamp the edges of the sheets between the laterally extending head portions 54 of the strips. When desired, sealing means 56 are carried by the head portions of the cover strips 48 to insure elective sealing of the joint between adjacent sheets of material. In any event, the lower ends of the cover strips abut the upper edges of theside plates 14 and 16 to providera neat joint between the elements securing the wall forming sheet material in place. p

With the construction shown the raceway 34 is closed about its sides and provides a space in which electrical conduits 58 or other facilities such as water pipes, telephone lines or the like may be housed so as to be fully enclosed and spaced from any bolts, screws or attaching means so as to meet the requirements of building codes and re underwriters. The wiring used may be conventional insulated wires instead of the usual heavy armored cable and side plates may be provided with openings communicating with the raceway 34 for direct mounting of electrical outlets 60, switches 62 or other connections without employing any outlet boxes, These openings may be located at any suitable points throughout the length of the side plates and on either side of the partition and may be made in the side plates either before orv after they have been placed in position.

The anchor stripplzfniay be secured to the floor" or foundation 20 in any location Vandibyisuitable means such as screws 64 passing through openings drilled in the anchor strip either before or after the strip is placed in position. The width of the anchor strip employed in any particular installation will depend upon the thickness of the wall forming material being used. However, as shown in Figs. Sand 9 the anchor strip may be made adjustable in width by forming it of two parts which are relatively movable toward and away from each other and jointly or individually secured to the lioor in the desired spaced' relation to enable the side plates to engage and grip sheet material of any required thickness. The strips and 82 may be identical in cross section but reversed in position as shown in Fig. 8 or they may have overlapping portions as shown at 84 and 86 in Fig. 9.

As shown in Fig. 3 the anchor strip may extend vertically and constitute or be secured to a door jamb or stile 66. In such cases theranchor plate may be specially formed for its intended purpose or may be attached to the stile 68 by means vof bolts or screws 72 or otherwise.

Further, as shown in Figs. l0, l1 and 12, the bolts or otherk securing means employed for holding the elements of the assemblies in place may be partially or wholly recessed in the side plates or cover strips and the ends of the bolts concealed by means of cap strips applied to the side plates or cover strips.

As shown in Fig. 10 the side plate 14 is formed as shown in Fig. 2 with vertically spaced and longitudinally extending webs 36 having bolt engaging ribs 38 for receiving the bolts 46 at any points throughout the length thereof. However, the other side plate 16a is formed with a longitudinally extending recess for receiving the head 92 of the bolt 46. The base 94 of the recess may be drilled at any suitable points to permit passage of the bolt through the base 94 into retaining engagement with the ribs 38 on the webs 36 to draw the side plates together in securing the elements of the base assembly together. The inner side Walls of the recess 90 are provided with n'bs 96 and a cap strip 98 formed with complementary grooves engageable with the ribs 96 is inserted into the recess 90 to cover the heads 92 of the bolts.

y .As shown in Fig. l1 -a similar construction may be used m securing together the cover lstrips between adjacent sheets of wall forming material. In this assembly one of the cover strips used is of the form shown at 48 in Fig. 2, whereas theother cover strip 100 is formed withV a longitudinally extending recess 10i'. provided with a cap strip 104 which conceals the heads 106 of the bolts 50. The `cap strip is held in place by ribs 108 engaging complementary grooves extending lengthwise of the cap snip.

Inthe construction of Fig. 12 both of the opposing elements of the cover `strip assembly are of Athe type shown at in F-ig. 1l 'and a conventional nut and bolt assembly is used with the heads 106 of [at leastsome of the bolts located in the recess 102 of one cover strip- Whle the nuts 109 on the opposite ends of the bolts are located in the recess 102 of the 'other coverrstrip of the assembly. Both cover strips are provided with cap strips 104 which YareV snapped into place to conceal the heads and nuts of the bolts used in securing the elements together. Y

The construction of Fig. l2 can, of course, be embodied in the assembly of Figs. l and 10 to permit the use of Vnuts, onv the bolts employed in securing the elements of the base assemblytogether, if desired. However, -as shown in Figs. .10 and ll,- when a cap strip is used on only one element of the assembly the other element may be Vfori-ned with longitudinally extending grooves llgsimulating the lopposite'edges 'of the cap Strip to'provide uniformity in appearance and a trim decorative design on both sides of the assembly.

The base assembly of the present invention consisting of the stripsl 12, 14 and 16 is also designed 'for' securing the upper edge of a partition to a ceiling or rafter as required in any installation and therefore the expansion base assembly should be understood to refer to the assembly of such elements when employed in any position or location.

In order to illustrate typical operations which may be employed in erecting a partition in accordance with the present invention, reference is made to Figs. 4 to 7. As indicated in Fig. 4 anchor strips 12a 4and 12b are secured to thefloor 26a and the ceiling 20b by means of screws 70. The width of the anchor strips used will depend upon `the thickness of the sheet material employed in forming the partition `and if the anchor plates of Fig. 8 or 9 are used, they may be individually or jointly secured in place in the required spaced arrangement to receive the side plates 14 and 16.

Thereafter, one of the side plates suc-h as 16 is cut ,to size and placed in position after first having been drilled to provide an opening for receiving an electrical outlet 60. The electrical conduits are simply layed in place in the space between the webs on the side plate 16 and are connected directly to the outlet 60 by sui-table Wiring connections without using any outlet boxes. A sheet of wall forming material 44 is then placed in posit-ion so as to rest upon the upper rib 38 of the side plate 16 with the upper edge of the sheet 44 positioned adjacent the upper anchor strip 12b. The other side plate, such as 14, is then cut and placed in position with its lower flange 24 projecting beneath the retaining means 22 o-n the anchor strip and is moved into position to engage the opposite `side of the sheet 44 so that the lower edge of the sheet is held in place within a channel formed of the webs 36 land the upwardly projecting edges 4Z of the side plates. Bolts 46 are then passed through openings drilled in either side plate between the bolt engaging webs 36 so ias to be received by the bolt engaging ribs 38 on the webs 36 of the other side plate.

Upon tightening these bolts the lower edge -of the sheet materiali-is clamped firmly in place between the portions 42 of the side plates 14 and 16. At the same time, the lower ilanges 24 of the side plates are drawn into secure engagement with the retaining rneans 22 on the opposite edges of the anchor strip 12a. A rigid base assembly is'thus provided for securing the sheet material in place and [for presenting fa closed raceway for securingr wiring or the like and extending the full leng-th of the assembly.

In the same manner #additional side plates 14 and 16 are applied to the upper anchor strip 12b and secured in place by the bolts 46 so as to clamp the upper edge of the wall forming sheet material 44 in. place. In forming corners or in passing about door and window openings the strips 12,14 and 16 can be cut to length and mitered or otherwise `fitted together and into place by workmen on the job and in the same manner `as ordinary lumber trim and molding rare handled in conventional practice when using wood.

The cover strips 48 are applied between the adjacent vertical edges of the sheets of wall forming material so that a partition is provided which is rigidly held in place and which can be easily |and quickly erected. The electrical conduits extend lthrough the raceway in the base assembly extending along the stile and over the head of the door. Switches can be located in the raceway adjacent the door for convenience in location or they may be located on orjadjacent any of the vertically extending cover strips between adjacent sheets of wall forming material.

The construction thus provided is neat and attractive in appearance and the elements can be made in uniform or various standard lengths so that little, if any, cutting and fitting of the parts is required and a great deal of time, labor `and expense is saved in the erection of the partitions. Moreover, the elements are adapted for use in erecting :partitions in either new or old building co-nstructions and may be removed and assembled in any new Alocation as required without .injury to the Hoor, 'ceiling'or walls to which they are applied. i A

While particular forms of anchor strips and side plates have been shown in the drawings for purposes of indieating :the nature of the present invention, it will be apparent that these forms may be changed considerably in shape and design. In view thereof it should be understood that `the embodiments of the invention shown in theV drawings and described above are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

We claim:

-l. A partition comprising a sheet of wall forming material and a retaining assembly extending along one edge of said sheet, the assembly comprising three VStrips of material one of which is a base member formed with a surface for engagement with a support/the base member being provided with opposite side portions spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet of wall forming material and presenting outwardly facing retaining means thereon, the other two strips of the assembly being side plates positioned in spaced and substantially parallel relation on opposite sides of the base member with the side plates extending substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface of the base member, the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent one edge thereof presenting complementary inwardly facing .retaining means thereon engaging -said'r'etaining means on the side portions of the base member, and the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent the opposite edge thereof overlapping the surface of the sheet material, the edge of the sheet material `being spaced from the lbase member, and fastening means extending from one side plate to the other in the space between the sheet material and base member and urging the side plates toward each other so as to force the marginal portions of the side plates into clamping engagement with both the base member and the sheet material.

2. A partition comprising a sheet of wall forming material and a retaining assembly extending along one edge of said sheet, Vthe assembly comprising three strips of material one of which is a base member formed with a surface for engagement with a support, the base member being provided with opposite side portions spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet of wall forming material andpresenting outwardly facing retaining means thereon, the other two strips of the assembly being side plates positioned in spaced and substantially parallel relation on opposite sides of the base member with the side plates extending substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface of the base member, the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent one edge thereof presenting complementary inwardly facing retaining means thereon engaging said retaining means on the side portions of the base member, and the marginal portion of each side plate 4adjacent the opposite edge thereof overlapping the surface of the sheet material, at

least one of the side plates having a projection thereon extending into the space between the side plates at a point spaced from the base member, the edge of the sheet matrial engaging said projection and being spaced from the base member thereby, and fastening means extending from one side plate to the other in the space between the sheet matrial and base member and urging the side plates to-y ward each other so as to force the marginal portions of the side plates into clamping engagement with both the base member and the sheet material.

3. A partition comprising a sheet of wall forming material and a retaining assembly extending along one edge of said sheet, the assembly comprising three strips of Y material one of which is a base member formed with a surface for engagement with a support, the base member being provided withopposite side portions spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet of wall forming material and presenting outwardly facing retaining means thereon, the other two strips of the assembly being side plates positioned in spaced and substantially parallel relation on oposite sides of the base member with the side plates extending substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface of the base member, the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent one edge thereof presenting complementary inwardly facing retaining means thereon engaging said retaining means on the side portions of the base member, and the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent the opposite edge thereof overlapping the surface of the sheet material, the edge of the sheet material being spaced from the base member, andfastening means extending from one Yside plate to the other in the space between the sheet material and ibase lmember land urging t-he side plates toward each other so as to force the marginal portions of the side plates into clamping engagement with both the base member and the sheet material, at least one of said side plates being provided with a web extending transversely from one side plate toward the other within the space between the sheet material and base member and defining a raceway for receiving service lines.

4. A partition comprising a sheet of wall forming material and a retaining assembly extending along one edge of said sheet, the assembly comprising three strips of material one of which is a base member formed with a` surface for engagement with a support, the'base member being provided with opposite side portions spaced apart a dis,- tance substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet of wall forming material and presenting outwardly facing retaining means thereon, the other two strips of the assembly being side plates positioned in spaced and substantially parallel relation on opposite sides of the base member with the side plates extending substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface of the base member, the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent one edge thereof presenting complementary inwardly facing retaining means thereon engaging said retaining means on the side portions of the base member, and the marginal portion of each side plate adjacent the opposite edge thereof overlapping the surface of the sheet material, the edge of the sheet material being spaced from the base member, said side plates having spaced parallel webs thereon extending lengthwise of the side plates and transversely across the space between the sheet material and base member to define a closed raceway for service lines, and fastening means extending from one of said side plates to the other outside the raceway and urging the side plates toward each other and into clamping engagement with the sheet material and base member.

5. An assembly for use in erecting a partition comprising three strips of material one of which is a base member provided with a surface for engaging a support, the base member having outwardly facing retaining means thereon extending lengthwise of the strip` at the opposite sides of the support engaging surface, the other two strips of the assembly being side 't plates with complementary inwardly facing retaining means thereon extending longitudinally of the strips adjacent one marginal edge thereof and engaging the retaining means on the base member, the side plates extending from the base member substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface and having their opposite edges arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart to form a sheet receiving slot, fastening means extending across said slot from one side plate to the other in spaced relation with respect to the base member and in position to hold the edge of a sheet of material inserted into said slot in spaced relation with respect to the base member, said fastening means being operable to urge the inwardly facing retaining means on the side plates into retaining engagement with the outwardly facing retaining means on the opposite sides of the base member.

6. An assembly for use in erecting a partition comprising three strips of material one of which is a base member provided with a surface for engaging a support, the base member having outwardly facing having retaining means thereon extending lengthwise of the strip at the opposite sides of the support engaging surface, the other two strips of the assembly being side plates with complementary inwardly facing retaining means thereon extending lengthwise of the strips adjacent one marginal edge thereof and engaging the retaining means on the base member, the side plates extending from the base member substantially at right angles to the support engaging surface and having their opposite edges arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart to form a sheet receiving slot, fastening means extending across said slot from one side plate to the other in spaced relation with respect to the base member and in position to hold the edge of a sheet of material .inserted into said slot in spaced relation with respect to the base member, said side plates having parallel webs thereon extending lengthwise of the side plates and transversely across the space therebetween to dene a raceway for service lines within the assembly, said fastening means urging the inwardly facing retaining means on the side plates into retaining engagement with the outwardly facing retaining means on the opposite sides of the base member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 866,479 Kiesel Sept. 17, 1907 1,417,102 Nyman et al. May 23, 1922 1,718,253 Putnam lune 25, 1929 2,198,287 Ladon Apr. 23, 1940 2,237,098 Gieseking Apr. 1, 1941 2,390,857 Tucker Dec. 1l, 1945 2,612,243, Campbell Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,107 Great Britain Jan. 19, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Sweets Catalog,`1951, 6a/A, p. l5 (Alcoa Aluminum in Architecture). 

